By Sterling McGinn
This Saturday, December 14, Garfield Township Cemetery in Engadine will join more than 4,600 locations in the United States as part of the Wreaths Across America program, which lays wreaths on veterans’ graves each holiday season.
This will be the first year Engadine has participated in the nation-wide ceremony with the Engadine program organized by Vallier’s 4Vets.
Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization, was founded by Morrill Worchester, owner of Worchester Wreath Company. When Worchester was 12 years old, he visited Arlington National Cemetery for the first time. The view of the graves left a lasting impression on him.
In 1992, his company had a surplus of extra wreaths near the end of the holiday season. This led to the beginning of the annual wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery, which ultimately led to the founding of the organization in 2007.
The organization’s mission is to “Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.” This mission brings individuals and communities together to honor the veterans buried in their local cemeteries, bringing to mind their service and sacrifice, and teaches the next generation the value of freedom.
“I had heard about Wreaths Across America, and when my sister and I visited Arlington National Cemetery, it impressed me that the family who started the organization did this for all of the graves,” said Cindy (Vallier) Johnson. Like Worchester, seeing all the graves and visiting Arlington inspired her to bring this event to her hometown. “I began reading about it and thought that we could do this.”
The Vallier brothers and sisters and other family members with their group called Vallier’s 4Vets, hold pasty sales and other fundraisers to help local veterans.
“We are a very veteran-friendly family,” Johnson said. Through a pasty sale and other sponsorships, Vallier’s 4Vets was able to bring Wreaths Across America to Engadine this year.
Saturday’s ceremony will begin promptly at 12 p.m. in the American Legion hall in Engadine. According to Johnson, eight of the wreaths will be placed on stands representing each branch of the armed forces and a wreath honoring POWs/MIAs.
Following the conclusion of that ceremony, the volunteers and participants will proceed to the Garfield Township Cemetery to lay the wreaths.
“There are 140 veterans in the cemetery and each grave will receive a wreath,” stated Johnson. “The wreaths go through a sponsorship on the organization’s website.”
The Honor Guard of the Feneley-McNeil-Nesbit American Legion Post 290 of Engadine will perform a rifle-volley salute at the cemetery with the sounding of “Taps” by the post bugler.
After the wreaths have been placed on the graves, a soup luncheon will be held back at the Legion hall.
Johnson noted that ten to 12 of her family members will help lay wreaths on Saturday along with members of the Garfield Township Fire Department, but additional volunteers are welcome to join in honoring the veterans.
Vallier’s 4Vets is hoping to continue the program again next year with the possibility of expanding to the Naubinway, Gould City, and Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in the next couple of years.
“That would be around 500 veterans receiving wreaths,” said Johnson. “That’s our Vallier family goal.”
Johnson and her family are encouraging Engadine and the surrounding communities to participate and observe the program on Saturday.
“I am hoping that people in other communities see this and will be inspired to do the same at their cemeteries in their hometowns,” she furthered.
Anyone who is interested in participating in Saturday’s program, or who has any questions, can call Cindy Johnson at (906) 291-0942.
